Has Greece decided?

It seems that Greeks will not vote in favour of a new government in september or october. Or any other month in the near future.

After the elections on the 17th of June, the new Greek government consists of the conservative New Democracy, the socialist PA.SO.K and the Democratic Left. No party ended up received enough seats in the parliament to gain control, and as a result a coalition government was necessary in order for the country to continue with its commitments.

The fate of the euro was balancing on a thin line after the rerun of the Greek elections failed to produce a strong government with a mandate to deliver the country’s austerity program.

New Democracy with Antonis Samaras (the main pro bail-out party with PA.SO.K as well) took the largest share of the votes; even such percentages would some years ago, have equaled what used to be opposition’s percentages, followed by SY.RI.ZA and Alexis Tsipras (an anti-bail out party which saw its percentages skyrocketing, and whose leader dangerously enough was making statements that if they came to power, he may lead Greece at another path, than that of the euro zone).

PA.SO.K, which was the party that governed the country, and George Papandreou, the former leader of the party and former Prime Minister of Greece, who put Greece in the IMF mechanism, was punished by the Greek people in terms of receiving a, for the party, historically low percentage since its foundation.

Even though SY.RI.ZA who came in second in the election, Alexis Tsipras immediately decided not to negotiate and participate in a coalition government. Instead they wanted to to be the opposition inside the Greek Parliament.

Not much of a surprise for most people, that Alexis Tsipras, who is not able to govern a country, wanted to play the easy game of being in opposition.

These elections were much different than the May-elections and any other. This time people voted either under fever or under threats. The people who voted – some 40% did not – were afraid of the possible return of the drachma (technocrats, politicians, journalists re-alive the scenario every 2-3 months in order to keep terrorising the Greek people).

As simple as that and nothing more.

Many people were furthermore in fear of loosing their work, since many employers, essentially manipulated the employee’s vote; of course they did not say “vote this party”, but many employees were told “let’s hope everything goes well on Sunday, so everyone will be able to keep their job, and still have his/her position on Monday”.

Apart from the fact that a strong propaganda, by the world, focused on Greece's domestic affairs, seemed to worked well, and finally “everything went well”. Everything from articles portraying the dangerous profile of Alexis Tsipras, to politicians 'euro-technocrats’ statements and even Presidents and Prime Ministers comments on the Greek elections.

The pre-electoral frame was labeled by messages stating that money would not exist in the event of any other political result than the one that was expected.

The key question is “expected by who?”.

Certainly not a result expected by the Greek people. Looking at the how the Greeks actually voted, indicate that none of the existed parties expressed their needs. Some say that this is exactly the key argument and indicator that the current government should take into consideration.

Namely the fact that the diversification in terms of votes is a clear and firm message by the Greek people to the political leadership; they need to find a way to cooperate.

I do agree that the message is indeed an urge for political cooperation, but who is to cooperate with who?

I do not think that the Greeks wants to be governed by a party they punished at the elections, with reference to its historically low percentages, and another party that ranked as only the fourth biggest.

Of course the reluctance of Alexis Tsipras hindered the possibility of a more orthological government formation, mirroring the true choice of the Greeks.

Ultimately, why did things not change? Why at this time; in an era, where radical political changes is much needed in Greece, is the country still ruled by the same parties that where the ones that ruled the last 38 years and the ones that brought the country into this well known bad situation? Why are they the ones, who, in a government of unity, should try to assert a more sustainable future solution for Greece and its people toward the fulfillment of Athens’ commitments?

I was never really into conspiracy theories but it is true that sometimes facts speak for themselves, and in this particular case everything worked in favour of 'creating' a specific government of unity in Greece. The people of greece seems to find themselves in the middle of the long awaited change.

As a consequence they are confused as they steadily realize that no party meets their needs, desires and expectations. They now see that the existing parties are neither willing, nor ready, to battle with their Europeans colleagues and able to achieve the best possible political results for Greece.

Apparently though more and more Europeans technocrats realize and confess that the austerity measures imposed on the Greek people were too austere, which have resulted in the fact that they have now started talking about extension of the initial timeline concerning Athens’ commitments as well as development concerns.

Germany offered to allow the New Democracy led coalition government a longer period to implement spending cuts, as long as it stuck to its credit agreements with the EU and IMF. The Greek government must agree 77 austerity measures and sack 150 thousands civil servants to get the next installments by the end of the summer.

A breathing space is much needed for the people, as they now have suffered for three years and suddenly and realize that some measures were too austere. Germany and at a greater extent France are willing and prepared to give that space.

The former Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou stated some weeks ago that Greece was the experiment of Europe concerning the financial crisis. Let’s hope that there are no more experiments to come.